Endeavor

Chapter 6: Escape

A.N.: Ah, things may be taking a turn for the better (or worse!). As always, please vote and comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts or predictions.

"I can't deal with this anymore, Rachel," Amelia said quietly. She was yelling a minute ago, but her quiet tone was worse. We were in the car, not making eye contact.

"It's not my fault," I replied, equally quiet.

Eddie had had some choice words for Amelia today when we went to the studio. I'd never seen him so angry, save for his acting. He told her everything about last night, and she was mad at me for leaving the date.

"It is completely your fault. You know what? I'm going to call Ben when we get home, set you two up on a date for Monday. You can't talk to Eddie until the date."

"I'm not a teenager," I protested. "You can't tell me who I can and can't talk to."

"If you even attempt to speak to Eddie, I'll quit my job and delete his number from your phone. You'll never speak to him again."

My stomach clenched. He'd promised I wouldn't lose him, but if I did, I wouldn't want it to happen prematurely.

I'd have classes Monday, so if I decided to stay out all night with Ben, I wouldn't have to worry about classes Tuesday. It was Saturday now.

Three days without Eddie. That might sound desperate, but he was the only person in my life with sense. I'd go insane in the next three days, being surrounded by Amelia and Ben.

When we got to the house, I went to my room, slammed my door, and locked it. I reached for my phone, planning to call Eddie to tell him what had happened. At the perfect moment, Amelia knocked on my door. I answered with a scowl on my face.

"I'm tracking your phone. I'll see if you call Eddie. I'm going to call Ben now." She left, and I slammed the door once more.

I felt my fists curl up. With a surge of adrenaline, I threw my pillow at the wall. I heard Amelia in the living room, laughing and talking. Instinct told me it was to Ben.

A tear rolled down my face. Eddie should know what was going on, lest there be a misunderstanding. Amelia would make it sound like I was angry at him for some reason. If he didn't call me, I'd lose him. If he did, Amelia would know, and I'd lose him.

Friend or lover, the thought of never seeing him again was unbearable.

I stood and walked downstairs. I grabbed all of my movies of his and hid them under my arm, like some sort of smuggler. I ran back upstairs in a panic, afraid I'd get caught forging any kind of memory of Eddie. I sat down to watch Les Misérables, though I'd seen it last night. What else could I do?

I watched the screen as my best friend sang about a girl whom he loved. I couldn't help but wonder if he thought that about me now.

I couldn't decide if I wanted him to or not.

I fell asleep with my thoughts, and didn't wake till morning.

Monday: Two Days Later

I walked on the quad of Harvard, weighed down by my backpack. I was hungry, having skipped dinner and having a small breakfast.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I tensed, knowing it was Ben. I turned in spite of myself.

It was Gideon.

"Amelia told me everything." His blue eyes were full of sympathy.

"I'm sure she did," I replied bitterly, and I walked on.